Category Archives: Applications & Testing & Experience

US Navy to Test Electronic Warfare Drones this Fall

The Dash X is a foldable Class II UAV – manufactured by VX Aerospace – that can loiter on targets for over 10 hours and carry electronic warfare payloads. (VX Aerospace)

Complex electronic warfare (EW) platforms – such as the U.S. Navy’s EA-18G Growler – could soon release swarms of drones from the aircraft, allowing the smaller vehicles to fly ahead to scout out for radar and other battlefield emitters, and potentially even take part in electronic attack missions themselves by jamming enemy sensor networks.

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GA-ASI Demos SATCOM Launch & Recovery for MQ-9B

On December 4,2018, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) demonstrated a complete MQ-9B mission without the use of a Launch and Recovery Element (LRE) Ground Control Station (GCS). Continue reading →

GA-ASI and Raytheon Prove New Digital Sensors

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) and Raytheon Deutschland GmbH based in Freising, Germany, have successfully proven the performance of a recently developed Electronic Intelligence (ELINT) sensor called the Advanced Radar Detection System (ARDS). The payload was integrated in a wing-mounted pod and test-flown on an MQ-9 RPAS. Continue reading →

Planck Aero Test Flights from Moving Ground Vehicles

Planck Aerosystems key leaders land a Shearwater drone on a moving truck to test its capabilities during night time operations on East MCAS Miramar, Calif., Jan. 24. 2019

Planck Aerosystems (Planck Aero) recently received authorization from Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Miramar, Air Traffic Control (ATC) to test the Shearwater sUAS in controlled airspace and at night. Continue reading →

First Test Flight in UK National BVLoS Experimentation Corridor

The first test flights to establish the principles for the National Beyond visual line of sight Experimentation Corridor (NBEC) have successfully taken place at Cranfield Airport. Continue reading →

Taiwan’s Navy Test Flies Albatross in Pingtung

Taiwan’s Navy held its first ever fly-over demonstration using the locally manufactured Albatross unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in the southernmost county of Pingtung Thursday, testing the remote controlled UAV’s reconnaissance and surveillance capabilities as part of a joint military operation. Continue reading →

Rakuten to Test Drone Deliveries in Japan

Rakuten, one of Japan’s leading e-commerce platforms, has announced that it will start delivering packages via drones in sparsely populated areas during the fiscal year beginning in April, now that the country has eased regulations on such flights. Continue reading →

China’s JD.com Trials Drone Delivery in Indonesia

JD.com, China’s largest online retailer, announced the completion of Indonesia’s first government approved drone flight – a breakthrough for drone delivery in Southeast Asia. The successful pilot opens the door for future commercial drone use in Indonesia and the Southeast Asia region, subject to further regulatory approvals. Representatives from Indonesia’s Ministry of Transportation, Civil Aviation and Air Navigation were present for the flight. Continue reading →